Stunning shots of the 2012 total solar eclipse (pictures)

We gather some extraordinary images of the total solar eclipse (and a few partial views) from Australia, New Zealand, and Chile.

Read More

Spectacular sun

Yesterday, on November 13, several parts of the world witnessed a total solar eclipse -- a rare phenomenon where the moon passes between the Earth and the sun.

Many people didn't get a chance to personally witness the full effect of the eclipse this year unless they watched it online. The 108-mile-wide and 9,000-mile-long path of totality -- the strip of land (and sea) that witnesses the full effect of 2012's solar eclipse -- only occurred at the northern tip of Australia, various countries in the South Pacific Ocean, and near Chile.

CNET dug around to find some great online images of the astronomy anomaly, and we've gotten permission to share them.

Christian Fernando Cisternas Smith snapped this colorful picture of a partial solar eclipse setting near a building under construction in Santiago, Chile.

Paranormal paradise

The beaches of Port Douglas, Australia, briefly held this special morning view of the total solar eclipse, captured by Scott Dawson.

"It was quite a battle getting a good pic," Dawn told CNET. "The clouds were doing their best to hide the show. I had less than 30 seconds to get that one and wouldn't you know it most of clouds went away a few hours later.

Surreal sunrise

Jon Clark witnessed this crescent sun -- shaped by the solar eclipse -- rising near the coast of Lee Point, Australia. Clark, who woke up at 5:30 a.m. to get the picture, says he felt "a little tired" that morning. We think it was worth the effort!

Solar series

Peter Hegarty stitched together the progression of the solar eclipse as seen from Brisbane, Australia, where the eclipse effect reached around 83 percent at its fullest point. The red hue comes from the Lunt LS60THa solar scope attached to his camera.